Annual Passes Resume April 13 (DVC) April 20 (General Public)

[lovethattink]

I was praying they would abolish APs, but no such luck. They give such a grossly unfair advantage to locals over us tourists, who pay a small fortune to be there, only to have to fight bigger crowds because of AP holders who pay pennies on the dollar. Now, with the crappy G+/ILL, VQ system, they can grab LL and BGs despite having done the rides dozens of times already. As a result, we might not even get to ride the new E Tickets even ONCE.

What a lousy, raw deal.

Most local AP that I know don’t buy G+.

Most local AP work so their park time is limited.

With Tron being strict with return times, it makes it hard for locals to get there on time since the estimated time is so far off, and traffic has so many bottlenecks in the morning. Then you add on time spent at TTC and travel from there to MK. It can take a lot of time just to get into the MK.

I don’t know many local AP who spend full days at the parks. Most go for a few hours. My family hasn’t spent a full day in the parks since SWW 2015.

 

[MillauFr]

I would have bought annual passes in 2021 if I knew they were going to stop selling them again so quickly. I bet there are others like me, and demand is going to be higher than it was in 2021. But who can guess how many passes they're going to have available. If there is a limited supply, I bet they sell out.

Based on the complete debacle and absolute madness with the Disneyland Annual Pass sale yesterday I expect the Disney World computer to collapse under the weight demand for the passes. They will be gone within hours.

 

[mddisneyfamily]

(I accidentally posted this in the DVC group and not sure how to delete so I will post here where I intended)...
I am going to try to purchase the Incredi pass on the 20th and and yesterday decided to go through the process to try to purchase Disneyland's magic key pass just to see how the process works (not intending to actually buy one). I know that the Disney World annual passes may be quite different but just for fun here's what my experience was yesterday...

I got in the queue at around 9:20AM (around 20 minutes after it opened) Pacific time and my wait stated at "more than 1 hour". At that point all four offered passes were available. At 2:10 PT it was my turn and all passes were still available. I didn't purchase of course but decided to get in the queue again to see how quickly they would sell out. At 3:50PT the Believe Key was sold out and at 4:06 the Enchant was gone. I believe at the end of the night the most expensive Inspire key pass was still available and possibly the Southern California exclusive pass but I wasn't following that one so not sure.

Curious to hear what time they will open the queue on the 20th.

 

[MillauFr]

I was praying they would abolish APs, but no such luck. They give such a grossly unfair advantage to locals over us tourists, who pay a small fortune to be there, only to have to fight bigger crowds because of AP holders who pay pennies on the dollar. Now, with the crappy G+/ILL, VQ system, they can grab LL and BGs despite having done the rides dozens of times already. As a result, we might not even get to ride the new E Tickets even ONCE.

What a lousy, raw deal.

Agreed. They really should get rid of the annual passes until demand decreases. If they are not willing to raise the price high enough they shouldn't sell the passes.

 

[Lehuaann]

I just received my DVC email. Start time is 6 am ET.

 

[emmabelle]

(I accidentally posted this in the DVC group and not sure how to delete so I will post here where I intended)...
I am going to try to purchase the Incredi pass on the 20th and and yesterday decided to go through the process to try to purchase Disneyland's magic key pass just to see how the process works (not intending to actually buy one). I know that the Disney World annual passes may be quite different but just for fun here's what my experience was yesterday...

I got in the queue at around 9:20AM (around 20 minutes after it opened) Pacific time and my wait stated at "more than 1 hour". At that point all four offered passes were available. At 2:10 PT it was my turn and all passes were still available. I didn't purchase of course but decided to get in the queue again to see how quickly they would sell out. At 3:50PT the Believe Key was sold out and at 4:06 the Enchant was gone. I believe at the end of the night the most expensive Inspire key pass was still available and possibly the Southern California exclusive pass but I wasn't following that one so not sure.

Curious to hear what time they will open the queue on the 20th.

I just posted on the DVC one too. But anyways...

I still have 2 enchant keys in my DL cart. I'm only eligible to buy Incredi because out of state and non DVC. Maybe I should just buy the enchant keys and go to DL for two years in a row? I haven't been to CA since 2004 and would love to go again. I'm just worried I will have major FOMO next Thursday if I don't try and buy WDW AP's.

 

[BroganMc]

Agreed. They really should get rid of the annual passes until demand decreases. If they are not willing to raise the price high enough they shouldn't sell the passes.

Same could be sad about day tickets. Let's hike up the prices to $300 per day. That'll decrease crowds.

 

[emmabelle]

I wish they could do an out of state AP with blockout dates for less. It would be easier to sell my husband on that.

 

[MillauFr]

Same could be sad about day tickets. Let's hike up the prices to $300 per day. That'll decrease crowds.

Actually I don't think would decrease crowds all that much on high demand periods like the Christmas holidays. Disneyland blocked all annual passes during Christmas. It was still mobbed and over capacity. They need to move to variable pricing models that accurately prices the tickets so that supply and demand are in balance.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Actually I don't think would decrease crowds all that much on high demand periods like the Christmas holidays. Disneyland blocked all annual passes during Christmas. It was still mobbed and over capacity. They need to move to variable pricing models that accurately prices the tickets so that supply and demand are in balance.

Except Disney wants peak capacity at all times. All this talk about improving the guest experience is baloney. They want maximum capacity at maximum prices, year round. Hence why there are festivals and special events year round.

 

[brockash]

(I accidentally posted this in the DVC group and not sure how to delete so I will post here where I intended)...
I am going to try to purchase the Incredi pass on the 20th and and yesterday decided to go through the process to try to purchase Disneyland's magic key pass just to see how the process works (not intending to actually buy one). I know that the Disney World annual passes may be quite different but just for fun here's what my experience was yesterday...

I got in the queue at around 9:20AM (around 20 minutes after it opened) Pacific time and my wait stated at "more than 1 hour". At that point all four offered passes were available. At 2:10 PT it was my turn and all passes were still available. I didn't purchase of course but decided to get in the queue again to see how quickly they would sell out. At 3:50PT the Believe Key was sold out and at 4:06 the Enchant was gone. I believe at the end of the night the most expensive Inspire key pass was still available and possibly the Southern California exclusive pass but I wasn't following that one

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I was praying they would abolish APs, but no such luck. They give such a grossly unfair advantage to locals over us tourists, who pay a small fortune to be there, only to have to fight bigger crowds because of AP holders who pay pennies on the dollar. Now, with the crappy G+/ILL, VQ system, they can grab LL and BGs despite having done the rides dozens of times already. As a result, we might not even get to ride the new E Tickets even ONCE.

What a lousy, raw deal.

Many AP holders are NOT locals. As non-locals, they ALSO pay a small fortune to stay at WDW. They aim to make an AP worthwhile by visiting say the second week of May 2022, then the first week of May 2023 - just before the AP expires. (Though some also manage to visit once in between if they can get a cheap flight.)

Most local AP holders don't tour the same way you do at all. They go to WDW for just a few hours, and half of that time is spent eating a meal, or doing something like looking at the GF's Easter eggs, or seeing the Dapper Dans perform, things rare visitors don't tend to prioritize.

Anecdotal, but the locals I've met happily avoid peak weeks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Agreed. They really should get rid of the annual passes until demand decreases. If they are not willing to raise the price high enough they shouldn't sell the passes.

Or WDW could increase park hours to meet demand?

Then again, late night crowds are pretty light under the current model. Many park goers are now waking up before 7am, and they don't have the endurance to tour past 9pm.

The parks have always been crowded mid-day, but I think G+ has made the problem even worse. Heavily incentivizing people to wake that early = crankier guests, IMO.

 

[MillauFr]

Except Disney wants peak capacity at all times. All this talk about improving the guest experience is baloney. They want maximum capacity at maximum prices, year round. Hence why there are festivals and special events year round.

But then why are they pricing the annual passes at a price they know will cause a feeding frenzy? Wouldn't you expect them to use the same yield management techniques that airlines use?

 

[BroganMc]

Actually I don't think would decrease crowds all that much on high demand periods like the Christmas holidays. Disneyland blocked all annual passes during Christmas. It was still mobbed and over capacity. They need to move to variable pricing models that accurately prices the tickets so that supply and demand are in balance.

Apparently sarcasm is misplaced on you.

FYI they already have a variable pricing model. They charge more for high demand times for everything from tickets to Genie+. The people keep paying.

If you think they're not charging enough that I have an easy solution for you. Become a Golden oaks owner. Then you will have VIP passes to everything. It includes an annual pass and you don't have to Make any Park reservations. It'll be exclusive just to you! I believe ownership starts at $1mil. That'll keep the riff Raff out for you.

 

[BroganMc]

Many AP holders are NOT locals. As non-locals, they ALSO pay a small fortune to stay at WDW. They aim to make an AP worthwhile by visiting say the second week of May 2022, then the first week of May 2023 - just before the AP expires. (Though some also manage to visit once in between if they can get a cheap flight.)

Most local AP holders don't tour the same way you do at all. They go to WDW for just a few hours, and half of that time is spent eating a meal, or doing something like looking at the GF's Easter eggs, or seeing the Dapper Dans perform, things rare visitors don't tend to prioritize.

Anecdotal, but the locals I've met happily avoid peak weeks.

Exactly. Locals mostly complain because they don't get that early reentry or early priority to book ILLs. I have some local friends who've never been on somr attractions because they could never get in a VQ.

The benefit goes to resort guests. I guess you could say the real benefit goes to those VIP tour people. They get to skip lines entirely and go right to the front. They pay for the privilege however.

The one thing people need to understand is that the number of AP holders at WDW was around 20% of the total park attendance. Disneyland however, was 50 to 60% of total park attendance. AP holders barely impacted attendance numbers in Florida.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

But then why are they pricing the annual passes at a price they know will cause a feeding frenzy? Wouldn't you expect them to use the same yield management techniques that airlines use?

Disney needs AP holders. They would never be able to keep the parks at capacity without any AP holders. Not sustainably anyways

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Or WDW could increase park hours to meet demand?

Then again, late night crowds are pretty light under the current model. Many park goers are now waking up before 7am, and they don't have the endurance to tour past 9pm.

The parks have always been crowded mid-day, but I think G+ has made the problem even worse. Heavily incentivizing people to wake that early = crankier guests, IMO.

Exactly. Locals mostly complain because they don't get that early reentry or early priority to book ILLs. I have some local friends who've never been on somr attractions because they could never get in a VQ.

The benefit goes to resort guests. I guess you could say the real benefit goes to those VIP tour people. They get to skip lines entirely and go right to the front. They pay for the privilege however.

The one thing people need to understand is that the number of AP holders at WDW was around 20% of the total park attendance. Disneyland however, was 50 to 60% of total park attendance. AP holders barely impacted attendance numbers in Florida.

Rope dropping is so much better at DLR than WDW. I wonder if it’s because of the locals to visitors ratio? Locals in CA just don’t get up that early.

 

[MillauFr]

Apparently sarcasm is misplaced on you.

FYI they already have a variable pricing model. They charge more for high demand times for everything from tickets to Genie+. The people keep paying.

If you think they're not charging enough that I have an easy solution for you. Become a Golden oaks owner. Then you will have VIP passes to everything. It includes an annual pass and you don't have to Make any Park reservations. It'll be exclusive just to you! I believe ownership starts at $1mil. That'll keep the riff Raff out for you.

The pricing model isn't variable enough. The price needs to vary in real time. If you want a fixed price you'll have to buy option contracts. Also, if you think charging $1m keeps out the riff raff you haven't been to Seattle lately. It doesn't in 2023.

 

[MillauFr]

Disney needs AP holders. They would never be able to keep the parks at capacity without any AP holders. Not sustainably anyways

They can easily keep the park 100% full every day of the year if they vary single day park tickets between $5 and $500 depending on demand.